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The differences between oncology nurses and nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an oncology nurse and a nurse. Additionally, an oncology nurse has an average salary of $72,372, which is higher than the $57,564 average annual salary of a nurse.
The top three skills for an oncology nurse include patients, chemotherapy and medical oncology. The most important skills for a nurse are patients, home health, and CPR.
| Oncology Nurse | Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $72,372 | $57,564 |
| Hourly rate | $34.79 | $27.68 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 584,649 | 696,124 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Oncology Nurses work with medical practitioners to take care of cancer patients in various settings (hospitals, clinics, etc.). The job requires compassion and personal fortitude to deal with their patients' suffering from such a profound illness. They are required to have an associate's degree in nursing and an RN license. Oncology Nurses provide professional care and coordinate the delivery of oncology treatments. They also take care of patients assigned to them in a medical oncology facility and ensure that hospital or department and University policies are followed.
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
Oncology nurses and nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Oncology Nurse | Nurse | |
| Average salary | $72,372 | $57,564 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $127,000 | Between $38,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Carmichael, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Washington Hospital Healthcare System | Conviva |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Government |
There are a few differences between an oncology nurse and a nurse in terms of educational background:
| Oncology Nurse | Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 52% | Bachelor's Degree, 43% |
| Most common major | Nursing | Nursing |
| Most common college | Duke University | Duke University |
Here are the differences between oncology nurses' and nurses' demographics:
| Oncology Nurse | Nurse | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.9% Female, 91.1% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |